Wicca for Collectors

Tags

degree, HP, HPS, initiation

There is a whole breed of person I’ve observed in employment, normally called the “greasy pole merchant” – at least, in my part of the civil service. If that means nothing to you, then you’re lucky. GPMs tend not to care what their current job is, as they always have their eye on the next promotion. for them, job title, salary level and grade are the things that matter. Looking after staff, or caring about the customer, are means to an end. I confess I screwed up at least one promotion for caring too much about the job. I also confess to feeling that was the right attitude, even if the effects sting.

In the same way, there are people in all religions for whom just being a simple Christian, or pagan or whatever is not enough.

Now I hold up my hand to having been a churchwarden, but that was a mistake. I never asked for that. Yes, I did explore the possibility of being a lay reader – but that was at a time when I was seeking something to keep me in the church. And yes, I did lead that bible study group for years… but it was only intended to last 7 weeks, I shared it with my friend, Lynn, and we made the women in the group do most of the work. And they taught me more than anything I taught them.

Something I see in paganism, though, that I didn’t see a lot of in Christianity, are the title gatherers. Perhaps it was because getting any form of title in an organised hierarchy that’s been around for centuries is a tough deal. There’s the testing before you get on the course, then the course, and then the work afterwards. And you’re under scrutiny from numbers of people all the way through that process. By comparison, the great thing about paganism is that you can make up your own titles, if you want. The not so great thing about Wicca is that everyone wants to be an initiate. And even better if you can be a High Priest.

I’ve come across the person who swans into a shop and tries to announce her status by giving her name as “Lady Moondrop” or whatever. Yes, that’s risible… but the not-so-silly equivalent are those who will stop at nothing to obtain their second degree through pester power, or determined hunting until they find someone who will give it to them. Because being a second (or third) is more important than just circling. Perhaps they have no relationship with the gods and so seek a mundane achievement. For many, pagan titles – even a PF adminstrator – fills a void and proves to the person that they have some worth.

Now, that’s not to say that many – most – PF officers aren’t nice, sincere folks who work their socks off for other pagans. They do. But I’ve also met the other sort: the ones who relish the title and run moots in order to hold court. That doesn’t rock my boat; and I’m hoping it doesn’t rock yours, either. 😀

And there are other sorts, of course; not just the ones who seek to fill a void in oneself by the acquisition of a higher title. There are those who desire Wicca as a fashion accessory: to seek standing with one’s friends and acquaintances by having access to an activity they value. Being an initiated Wiccan  imparts a social standing that cannot be achieved by solitary spiritual practice. For many, being an initiated Wiccan has always had that cachet.

For someone like me (for whom the interior life is the vital one and any socially shared activity based around that), religion as a purely external activity has always been baffling. I understand those who grow attached to this or that means of giving expression to the inner life – this building or that ritual – but what does it give those with no inner life to give expression to?

But then, this is what initiation is all about, isn’t it? And the whole question of whether or not it ‘takes’ rests on that single point: the inner spark.

Is it unreasonable to hope that something is given birth by initiation, which turns the mundane reasons for seeking a degree and into something worthwhile for the craft? 😉